Display counter top



Dec 19, 1950 H. 0. OATIS ETAL 2,534,620

DISPLAY CQUNTER TOP Filed March 7, 194a Patented Dec. 19, 1950 UNITED STATES PTENT OFFICE DISPLAY COUNTER TOP Henry 0. Oatis and Robert F. Yantis, Dallas, Tex.

Application March 7, 1946, Serial No. 652,731

3 Claims.

This invention relates to store display fixtures and is pertinent more specifically to the method of supporting partitions upon display counters and other store furniture.

The primary object of this invention is to provide an efiicient means of vertical support for display counter partitions.

Another object of the invention is to provide partition supporting members so designed that the use of tools is unnecessary in their assembly.

A further object of the invention is to provide a specific method of construction in relation to a counter top to conform to the design of the supporting members,

Still other objects and desirable features of convenience and flexibility of arrangement will become apparent as the description proceeds, considered in connection with the accompanying drawings wherein:

Figure l is a frontal perspective view of a counter top to illustrate the details of construction of the counter top and a suggested arrangement of partitions and supporting members.

Figure 2 is a perspective view of a modified form of a supporting member made of plastic or similar material and using rods or dowels as connecting members.

Figure 3 is an exploded perspective view of a partition supporting member and its connecting strips.

Figure 4 is a fragmentary perspective view of a companion supporting member to illustrate its construction and relationship with the partitions and enclosing walls.

Figure 5 is an exploded topplan view of a supporting member and connecting strips shown in Figure 3, the dotted lines describing the contour of a metal stamping from which the supporting member is fabricated, and

Figure 6 is still another modified form of corner support in which the connecting members are disposed perpendicularly to the counter top.

Continuing with a more detailed description of the drawings, reference numeral [0 designates a sub-top of a counter upon which a finish top H is permanently placed. The sub-top It] extends past the finish top H a sufficient distance to allow adequate space for the placement of an end wall 12 and a front and back wall M between a counter band I3 and the top H, the band is thereby serving as a support for the walls l2 and 14. The front and back walls are of such length as to be disposable longitudinally of the counter to obtain a snug fit between the end counter bands I 3; the end walls l2 are in turn transverse- 2 1y disposable between the front and back wall members M.

A supporting member, or bracket, l5 illustrated in detail in Figure 4, is adaptable for use along the front of the counter in the support of an interior partition member It. A vertically disposed portion ll of the bracket :5, adjacent the front wall member M is sufficiently low in relation to the top edge of the wall member H! as to permit small articles on display within the enclosed spaces to be easily apparent to casual observation from the front side of the counter. Each bracket is so constructed as to permit support of partitions 56 in transverse relation to the end walls 52 and to the front and back walls I 4.

A partition supporting member, or bracket l8, illustrated in detail in Figure 3, is adaptable for use alongthe ends of counters which are disposed adjacent and in extended alignment with another counter, and in supporting the interior partitions l6.

Referring to Figure 5, a contour corresponding to the dotted lines is out or stamped from sheet metal and formed into brackets it having upwardly and inwardly turned tabs l8a, forming sockets or channels to receive the ends of connecting strips 59, as shown in detail in Figures 3 and l. The edges 22 are permanently attached in a vertical position to form a rigid corner for the bracket, and as shown, the ends a of the strips l9 are diagonally cut to secure conformably when the ends thereof are abutted adjacent the corner of the bracket.

The connecting strips 19 are fabricated of metal or other suitable material and are disposed within the space provided in the supporting members l5 and it, as shown in Figures 1 and 3. Diametrically opposite strips comprising portions of the same unit are of corresponding length, thus permitting the disposal of partition members 16 in a manner to enclose an area of the desired dimensions. Two brackets l 5, two brackets l8, and four connecting strips l9 comprise a front compartmental supporting unit; in like manner, four brackets l8 and four connecting strips [9 comprise an interior compartmental unit capable of supporting transversely disposed partitions,

In the preferred embodiment of the invention, the vertical wall members and partitions are of glass or sheet plastic composition having transparent qualities permitting visual inspection of articles on display upon the counter top I I. The interior partitions i 6 as illustrated are of uniform thickness and vertical displacement. The front and back wall members It and the end members 3 [2 as illustrated in Figures 1 and 4 extend from the level of the top of the interior partitions IE to the sub-top Hi, being supported thereon by the edge of the counter top II and the counter band 13.

With reference to Figure 2 showing a modified form of the supporting brackets described in the foregoing, and shown in the companion figures, preferably a plastic composition is used in the forming of a bracket 20 adapted to receive rods or dowels 21 as connecting members. Otherwise, the shape and function of this unit of the assembly is the same.

In Figure 6 is shown a further modification of the corner unit in that instead of the sockets or channels being disposed in a horizontal plane, as previously described, these sockets, I8b, are disposed in a vertical plane and will support the connecting strips 19 on their edges, as shown. In thus supporting the strips it becomes unnecessary to cut their ends on an angle of 45 as earlier described.

Manifestly, the construction and arrangement of parts as illustrated and described is capable of some modification and such modification as may be construed to fall within the scope and meaning of the appended claims is also to be considered within the spirit and intent of the invention.

What is claimed is:

1. In a display counter, in combination, a counter deck, a counter top supported thereon, an enclosing band attached to the edge of said deck, outer wall members longitudinally disposed upon said deck adjacent said counter band and edge of said counter top and supported vertically thereby, a series of interconnecting partitions on said deck, a plurality of partition-supporting brackets, a plurality of inside-corner supporting brackets, said inside corner supporting brackets each consisting of a body having a base provided with sockets in right angular relationship, each having a vertically disposed portion against which the said wall members bear, and a plurality of connecting strips slidably retained in the sockets of said brackets for maintaining said brackets in fixed positions in their mutual relationship.

2. In a display counter top arrangement, in

,. Number 4 combination, a counter deck, a perpendicular band enclosing said deck and aflixed thereto, vertically disposed outer wall members in juxtapositioned relation to said band and supported upon the surface of said deck, a counter top superimposed upon said deck and affixed thereto, said top extending horizontally to the outer wall members and being a support therefor, a plurality of brackets for supporting said wall members, said brackets each comprising a base consisting of sockets arranged in right angular relationship and wall supporting portions perpendicular thereto, a plurality of connecting strips lyingfiush on said counter top and slidably retained in said sockets for maintaining said brackets in fixed positions in their mutual relationship, and a plurality of partition wall members supported edgewise by said brackets.

3. In a counter display arrangement, a counter deck, a band enclosing said deck and afiixed thereto, perpendicular outer wall members supported upon said deck adjacent said band, a counter top upon said deck and affixed thereto, said top extending to said outer wall members and forming a partial support therefor, a plurality of perpendicular inner partitions disposed upon said counter top and forming compartments thereon, a plurality of brackets, each having socket members in right angular relationship, an upright in perpendicular relation to each socket member for supporting said inner partitions in rectilinear mutual relationship and horizontally disposed connecting members slidably retained in said socket members for supplementary support of said brackets.

HENRY O. OATIS.

ROBERT F. YANTIS.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Name Date Guthrie Feb. 23, 1932 Meyer Mar. 1, 1938 Walter July 12, 1938 Shelton Apr. 15, 1941 

